Apple Watch 2 will have GPS, barometer and larger battery – report

Two years after the first version, it seems that Apple Watch 2 will be releasing soon. As per reports, the new Apple Watch will feature performance improvements and improved waterproofing and is expected to be announced in September, along with the upcoming iPhone 7.

As reported by AppleInsider, who received a note sent by KGI analyst Ming-Chi Kuo to investors, there are two updates to Apple Watch planned in the next six months. The first model, with performance improvements, due to updated internals, and improved waterproofing will be revealed as early as next month by Apple. It will not be branded as Apple Watch 2 since the updates will be minor. The design will not get any changes which should mean that the same bands and accessories that work with the current generation Apple Watch should also work with the updated one.

Once the ‘Apple Watch 1s’ is announced, Apple will likely reduce the prices of current generation Watches, which should make them more affordable.

The second version is also expected to have the same design as current generation Apple Watch but with GPS and a barometer, along with a larger battery to power the additional components. The internals should get another specification bump with this release if it has to power more components, but that has not been mentioned in the report. No LTE data connectivity is expected either for the updated model, however, it is expected that in 2018, Apple Watch should receive cellular connectivity for standalone functionality.

Kuo’s note does not mention the addition of a camera to any future Watch model.

As a current generation Apple Watch owner, I am glad to know that no major design changes are expected for the next update. Even though it has been almost 14 months since the launch of the first generation Watch, it is always a plus if a timepiece has a timeless design. Apple has already added tremendous improvements to the Watch in the form of watchOS 3, which should prolong the life span of all first generation devices.

Even though Apple never officially shared the number of units for Apple Watch sales, different analysts have shared numbers ranging from 12 million to 20 million.